On Saturday 18 November 2006 06:04, Matt Bucknall wrote:
...
> I assume then, there is no cross-platform means of finding
> out whether/where libraries are installed automatically (i.e. for use by
> some installation process).

That is correct.  Java leaves that to the user and/or the user's operating 
system to configure as desired.


> Is it normal practice when deploying a Java 
> application to include all the JARs that it needs so not to rely on the
> end-user having some packages already pre-installed?

Yes, this is quite common.  IMO this is primarily born out of the 
cross-platform nature of most Java applications combined with simplification 
(or laziness) by the program author(s).

A nice balance between the extremes was already mentioned by Petteri Raty:  
offer archives without library dependencies for easier inclusion into 
installers (and operating systems like Gentoo).  That way the user and 
operating system maintainers can pick the best option for their needs.

~ Greg